6 Manchester United Players that can have a breakthrough season this year

Huge clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona not only boast of a huge transfer kitty but an equally impressive youth academy. Countless players have graduated from these academies and gone onto play for the first team.

The reputed La Masia graduates made up the backbone of the famed Pep Guardiola's Barcelona side and Class of '92 were the foundations of United's treble-winning season of 1999.

Today, while clubs actively infuse a lot of money into the academy, a very small fraction of players get to play for the first team. Sir Alex Ferguson used to famously send his youth prodigies on loan to gather experience and then play for the first team, no matter how good you were.

Chelsea is ridiculed for their loan policy, wherein their academy players being sent out on loan have a minimal to no chance of ever representing them. In recent times, while United has splashed a lot of money on new recruits, players such as Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard have successfully got into the first team plans.

While it all depends on talent and opportunities, many players such as Macheda and Ravel Morrison have failed to make the grade at United, and here are some of the players on the books of United that can have a breakthrough season this time around:

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#1 Andreas Pereira

Andreas Periera has been with Manchester United since 2011 and made his senior debut in the 2014/15 season.

He started off as a left winger and an attacking midfielder before settling in a more central role in the midfield. Still, he can play as a No. 10 or on the wings or as a central midfielder, adapting to the formation used. He's capable of dictating plays with his intelligent vision and courageous passing and can put in a killer ball from the centre of the park as well as from the wings.

The arrival of Jose Mourinho and scarcity of game-time led him to go on loan to Granada in 2016/17 and then Valencia in 2017/18, in the Spanish top flight.

He played in the attacking midfield position for both the clubs (No.10 at Granada and LM/RM at Valencia) and registered a commendable six goals, six assists and 72 key passes in the 66 games in the past two seasons.

After having mid-season midfield crisis and the departure of Michael Carrick, it can be expected of Mourinho to keep a hold of him this season where he can combine with Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera.

His versatility can be really helpful to Mourinho and United, as he can be deployed in any of the midfield positions. A player of his calibre can be more than a squad player in the upcoming season.

He has a creative flair to his game, is an amazing dribbler and has a brilliant set-piece ability too. Be it from free-kicks, corners or direct shot free-kicks, Pereira has the quality to deliver a great ball.

Statistics - WhoScored.com

#2 Timothy Fosu-Mensah

Fosu-Mensah's versatility could be vital for United

Timothy Fosu-Mensah is an Ajax graduate and has been with United since 2014. He can play either as a right-back, a right-sided centre-back or a central defensive midfielder. A Dutch international now, his vision and pace can be used to start the attacks from the defensive line.

He made his first team debut in 2015/16 and impressed wherever he was deployed, including the left back position.

He appeared 21 times for Manchester United over the next two seasons and was loaned to Crystal Palace for 2017/18 season, where he impressed at the right-back position as well as the right-sided defender in three-man defence.

He played 21 times in the league last season, averaging two tackles, two interceptions and three clearances in a highly wasteful Palace defence.

His passing stands at a good 76%, and at 6'2'', can easily win most of the aerial duels and is a threat during set pieces too.

With Michael Carrick gone and Antonio Valencia approaching 33 soon, it'd be beneficial to bring Timmy back into the first team plans, wherein his experience in the Premier League shall be helpful too.

With his stature and gameplay, he can be a good understudy to Nemanja Matic and Antonio Valencia.

A multipurpose player, his flair and technique shall be a useful addition to the squad. He's expected to be a backup to the first team players but can always have a good run of games in the cup competitions.

Statistics - WhoScored.com

#3 Luke Shaw

Shaw will look to bounce back this season

Under Mauricio Pochettino at Southampton, Shaw became one of the best young left-backs in the world. United was quick to snap him up for the then world record fee for a teenager. He's had immense potential but his lack of fitness has always been an issue.

Shaw is fleet-footed and can dribble past defence well too, with a good ability to hold on to the ball.

After starting to have a breakthrough 2015/16 season under Louis van Gaal, he suffered that horrific double leg injury that kept him out for the season.

Needless to say, he hasn't been the same Shaw that came back and has shown very few glimpses of promise during his time at United.

He had 11 appearances in the league last season, and averaged 1.6 tackles and 1.7 interceptions, providing 1 assist in those games. He has performed better at the European stage, with 2.3 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game.

With Young getting old and Darmian expected to leave, he can work his way through the first team and make a comeback into the team.

He's been working on his fitness proactively and was the first to report to the Carrington ground for the preseason.

If he manages to do this, there's no doubt that he'll have his standout season and hopefully make it back to the national squad.

Statistics - WhoScored.com

#4 Axel Tuanzebe

Axel Tuanzebe - the next big defensive star in the United roster?

Another Manchester-born player, Axel Tuanzebe has been a part of United's setup since he was eight years old. He can play as a centre back and as a right-back.

Having risen through the ranks, the defender made his senior team debut in 2016/17, under Jose Mourinho.

He played a string of games during the end of the season, with Mourinho playing him at right-back and as a central defensive midfielder. He's an excellent tackler and passer, with a strong aerial presence too.

He spent the last season on loan at Aston Villa FC, where he made a low but impressive 5 appearances in the English second tier.

He averaged 3.2 tackles, 0.9 interceptions and 3.8 clearances during that time and won 85% of his aerial duels. He has been praised by former United youth coach Paul McGuiness, comparing him to Gary Neville.

He has won the Young Player of the Year award as well as the Reserve Player of the Year award, which pays for his immense potential and talent.

With Manchester United having a defensive injury crisis every season and Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo highly inconsistent (not to mention, Rojo's weekly two-footed WWE challenge on attackers), it might be the right time to bring him into the first team plans. He can also be prepared to be Antonio Valencia's long-term replacement if United want.

He's an extremely good player and can adapt to any role he's deployed in and maybe after having a good run of PL and Cup games, he can realize his true potential and have a splendid season.

Statistics - WhoScored.com

#5 Cameron Borthwick-Jackson

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson - United's solution to the LB problem?

English full-back Borthwick-Jackson has been at United since he was six years old and has been the first choice left back in all of United's youth setup. The lightning-quick pace with excellent crossing, he can run past defences and put in a defence-splitting key pass.

He made his senior team debut in 2015/16 under Louis van Gaal. After playing a string of matches that season, he was loaned away to Wolverhampton Wolves and Leeds United the next two seasons.

Much to Mourinho's chagrin, he only played 13 times throughout those two seasons. He had a disastrous loan spell at Leeds, with him playing only once in the EFL championship.

His senior career stats aren't helped by the previous two seasons but still stand at an average of 1.4 tackles, 1.6 interceptions and 0.9 crosses per game. He was tipped for a bright future but such tragic loan moves have hampered his development.

With United having problems at the left-back position ever since Patrice Evra left and none of the replacements doing the trick, it might be a good time for Mourinho to give this youngster a chance, instead of splashing the cash on a new recruit.

He might just be the solution United were searching for all these years. If Mourinho does decide to give him a chance and mentor him, this season might just be his career-defining one.

Statistics - WhoScored.com

#6 Angel Gomes

Future Star in the making, Can he have a breakthrough like Mbappe?

He was very impressive at the 2017 U17 World Cup, where he ended up with the winner's medal.

He had made a brief senior team appearance in the 2016/17 season, followed by another one the next season. In the past two seasons, he has played in the U18 Premier League and UEFA Youth League and scored an admirable 17 goals in 14 games.

Angel Gomes joined Manchester United at the age of six and is probably the youngest player on this list. An Attacking midfielder, he's shone on every stage he's played in. Gomes has a certain flair to his game and is often seeing showcasing his tricks to move past defenders. He is a natural number 10, who drifts onto the wide areas to create the play. His creativity, composure and dribbling, along with quick pace, is what sets him aside from the lot.

The way Louis van Gaal had promoted Rashford to the first team after an injury crisis, Gomes can also be expected to be called up to the senior team plans. It's a bit of a long shot for him to be a regular presence this season for the team, but can be expected to be played in a couple of Cup matches for sure. And who knows, he might start a PL game by the end of this season!

Statistics - Transfermarkt.com